'Survivor: Edge of Extinction' castaways and new twist formally announced by CBS

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/31/2019

Survivor: Edge of Extinction will feature 14 new castaways and four returning veterans competing to win $1 million when the series' 38th season -- which will also include a special twist -- premieres on CBS in February.

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CBS has announced the identities of the 14 newbie castaways who will compete against each other and the four previously-revealed veteran castaways whenSurvivor: Edge of Extinction premieres with a one-hour episode on Wednesday, February 20 at 8PM ET/PT.

This season presents a new layer to the game with the introduction of the island known as "Edge of Extinction," which "severely tests the will of the castaways to be the 'Sole Survivor' and what they are willing to endure to make that happen," according to the network.

The players who can withstand the emotionally and physically difficult challenge will be afforded a shot for one of them to get back in the game and continue their quest for the $1 million grand prize.

"Survivorcontinues to reinvent itself with new energy, and this season we've added a new secret game-changing twist," executive producer and host Jeff Probst said in a statement.

"After being voted out, players will be faced with a decision to either go home or go to the 'Edge of Extinction,' where they will be pushed further than ever before for a chance to get back in the game."

CBS's announcement confirms prior online spoilers that claimed Survivor: Edge of Extinction would feature what some viewers will consider a controversial twist -- a new Redemption Island-like format change in which castaways are not permanently eliminated from the game when they are voted out of their tribe at Tribal Council.

Instead, the ousted castaways will have the option to go to "Extinction Island" -- a more brutal environment than the former Redemption Island -- where they will have to survive with no shelter and limited supplies as they wait for the opportunity to earn a chance to rejoin the main game.

"When a player is eliminated they can choose to quit or go to Extinction Island. Players can leave at any time. There will be two chances for a player to win their way back into the game -- at the merge and then around Day 35/36," Inside Survivor blogger Martin Holmes reported in July 2018.

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"Extinction Island does not reset at the merge; the extinct castaways who don't win their way back into the game can continue to live on Extinction Island until Day 35/36 when the second opportunity to reenter arises."

According to Holmes, "every eliminated player who chooses to stay on Extinction Island past the merge will be part of the jury (if a player on [Extinction Island] quits post-merge, they will still be on the jury)."

Online spoilers had also claimed Joe, Aubry, Kelley and David will serve as "captains" on Survivor: Edge of Extinction, although CBS did not confirm that detail in its announcement.